After the "Atmosphere" lecture and readings you should be able to answer and discuss the following questions.

What is science?

What is the atmosphere?

What is a hypothesis?

What is a theory?

How does a hypothesis differ from a theory?

What is the scientific method?

What are the 8 steps of the scientific method?

Define the following terms: system; open system; closed system

List and describe the four major earth systems.

Define the following terms: weather; climate; meteorology

What are the major components of the Earth's atmosphere in order from greatest to least amount?

Which of the major components shows the greatest amount of variation?

What is the origin of the Earth's atmosphere?

Compare and contrast the present atmosphere with the Earth's original atmosphere.

From where did the oxygen (O₂) that is currently a major component of the atmosphere come?

How have oxygen levels changed throughout the history of the Earth?

What was the percentage of oxygen believed to have been during the Pennsylvanian Period?

Why were oxygen levels this high during this period and what is the evidence that indicates higher levels of oxygen?

How are oxygen levels in the atmosphere increased?

How are oxygen levels in the atmosphere reduced?

How are carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere increased?

How are carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere reduced?

How are water levels in the atmosphere increased?

How are water levels in the atmosphere reduced?

How are methane levels in the atmosphere increased?

How are methane levels in the atmosphere reduced?

How are ozone levels in the atmosphere increased?

How are ozone levels in the atmosphere reduced?

Specifically how do CFCs breakdown and destroy ozone?

How are particle levels in the atmosphere increased?

How are particle levels in the atmosphere reduced?

What is a Lapse Rate?

What is the Lapse Rate (in Metric) for the Troposphere?

Describe the basic characteristics of the Homosphere and the Heterosphere.

List the characteristics of each of the major layers within the Earth's atmosphere.

Between what two elevations is most of the Earth's atmosphere found?

What are the auroras? Where are they found? How are they formed?

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